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Sleep-deprived? Alcohol’s Not The Antidote!

Posted on Oct 04, 2012

Fatigued, stressed and feeling low? Been sleep-deprived for quite some time? Many would resort to finding solace in a bottle of alcohol to drown their sorrows, and to just make them sleep. People claim that booze has quite a sedative effect and puts them to sleep easily, but hey! There’s a difference between passing out after drinking and good quality sleep.

If you are one of those who believe alcohol will make you sleep better, think again.

1. Alcohol Spoils Sleeping Patterns Tremendously

Though it’s true that alcohol reduces the time required to go to sleep, it wreaks havoc with sleep patterns. Consumed a little before bedtime, alcohol causes disruption in the second half of the sleep period. One becomes more prone to waking up in the middle of the night, getting disturbed by dreams and going back to sleep with much difficulty. What’s worse is that if you make a habit out of it, the temporary sedative effect of drinking may gradually wear off while these disruptive effects will continue to become worse.

2. Alcohol Consumption Leads To Poor Sleep Quality

Drinking affects the quality of sleep by causing sleep fragmentation. As mentioned, you become more prone to restlessness in the second phase of sleeping. As alcohol is metabolized by the body during the night, you become more restless, your sleep becomes lighter and you become more fidgety in your sleep. Needless to say, this doesn’t constitute a good night’s sleep and you do not end up being well-rested.

3. It’s Difficult To Focus And Concentrate On Daytime Activities

Probably, you’ll wake up with a hangover, especially if you indulged yourself a tad too much the previous night. Even if you don’t, you’ll be feeling quite fatigued and tired during the day. After all, you haven’t been able to sleep well. Don’t be surprised if you still feel sleepy during the day, because you haven’t been able to get good sleep at all.

4. Withdrawal May Lead To Insomnia

If you’ve been a heavy drinker, and decide to quit, the withdrawal symptoms will exhibit in the form of further sleep disturbances. Insomnia is said to accompany alcohol withdrawal, with some people experiencing numerous awakenings. But the real danger is relapse in the person trying to give up the habit. They might get back to the bottle believing it will help them sleep better, when, in reality, it will continue to wreak havoc with their sleeping patterns.

It’s a myth that alcohol will help you sleep better. In fact, it actually causes more sleep deprivation and will be counter-effective if you’re looking at it as a solution to your sleep problems. The scenario may be worse for women, whose bodies tend to have a higher alcohol concentration than men for the same quantity of drink consumed. That’s why alcohol may cause more sleep deprivation in women.

So the next time you turn to the bottle to help you doze, think smarter and think healthy. Stay away and stay fit!

Alcohol Abuse Is A Dangerous Obsession. Express Yourself

Posted on Sep 10, 2012

Alcohol Action New Zealand (AANZ) began with just a few individuals who recognized the harmful effects alcohol abuse and excessive consumption were having on their society. Having worked in addiction treatment they had front row seats to the life sapping drama that alcohol can unleash in people’s lives.

Societies across the world are increasingly falling prey to the ills of alcohol abuse and it is almost becoming an obsession. From enjoying a beer during a football game or a glass of wine with dinner, the trend has rapidly accelerated to incessant drinking. More and more youngsters are being exposed to alcohol without any regulation or oversight, and everywhere it is being marketed as something cool and fun.

There are people, however, who are spending endless hours and resources trying to educate the public and combat the evils that this habit is bringing with it. When alcohol becomes a way of life, when it becomes an escape, when it becomes an addition; then it takes over one’s life and a line has to be drawn somewhere. This is not just an individual’s problem, but one that affects multiple people around that individual and spreads its influence in society at large.

To make this information accessible to people and to ensure that they at least start thinking about this problem, AANZ has come up with a fantastic contest that encourages people to present their views about alcohol abuse. Almost everyone has been impacted in one way or the other by this issue and they are looking for a creative expression of that.

The options are endless. You can write a poem, paint a picture or make a video. You can rap about it, you can dance or you can simply point and shoot. The point is to express your opinion in an interesting manner to showcase the harmful effects of alcohol. Through this competition people will gain awareness about the cause and hopefully truly start to understand how their quality of life can be damaged by this addiction.

The cause is great and the prizes are even greater. Participate in the contest and spread the word. The more viewers like your entry, the higher your chances of grabbing the judge’s attention.

For details regarding the contest, check Alcohol Competition Win on Facebook. Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions, and send in your entries latest by the 3rd of October, 2012.

Good luck and say NO to abuse!

Alcohol Abuse, DWINo Comments »Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Action New Zealand DWI

What is a DWI Charge?

Posted on Mar 21, 2012

DWI or ‘driving while intoxicated’ is an offense where a person is arrested and convicted for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This influence can be evaluated by the BAC or blood alcohol content and by observing subsequent physical and mental impairments which can hamper driving.

DWI Charges

There are usually two types of DWI charges. One type is `per se’ which is based on the observation of the law enforcement officers during the field sobriety test or is evaluated by a breathalyzer test. In the US, the legal limit of BAC is 0.08 percent, more than this leads to a DWI offense and a DWI conviction.

DWI laws depend on the state in which you are living. Each state has its own way of administering field sobriety tests, specific legal limits to BAC for adult, underage and commercial vehicle operators.

Consequences of a DWI Offense

The consequences of a DWI offense are usually quite severe. They include various penalties like:

One year jail time,
Heavy fine,
Community service,
License suspension, and
Counseling.

The severity of the punishment increases with the frequency of the DWI charges. In states like New York, the first DWI offense is considered as a misdemeanor and will not affect the records of the driver. However, subsequent charges are considered as felonies and will appear on criminal records. A DWI conviction can also affect various other areas like employment, probation, promotions and subsequent offenses.

The penalty increases if you refuse to cooperate with the law enforcement officers and your charge is termed as an “aggravated” DWI charge. Refusal to take a breathalyzer test can also lead to aggravated DWI charge. If you have caused a fatal accident, then it will be considered as a felony.

If it is your first offense with test failure and your BAC is between .08 and 0.149, your driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days, with restricted driving to and from work and to school for 330 days. Second and third offense will lead to suspension of driving privileges for one year followed by one year of restriction of driving only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. The reinstatement fee is $200. The extent of DWI penalties will increase with the number of offenses committed.

Handling DWI Charges

A DWI charge is applicable to vehicles like cars, trunks or commercial vehicles. However, penalties are more severe for those who:

Operate commercial vehicles
Drive with minors in the car
Drive with a suspended or revoked license or
Drive with no license at all

Before you are convicted of DWI charges, the Department of Motor Vehicles will begin proceedings to suspend your license. This is different from the criminal charges brought by state prosecutors.

If your BAC was above the legal limit and you were arrested for drunk driving, you need to handle the DWI charges effectively as the penalties are very severe and can affect your life and the lives and safety of those around you.

Alcohol Abuse, Blood Alcohol Content, DWI, DWI cases, Drunk DrivingNo Comments »BAC Drunk Driving DWI charges DWI conviction DWI offense DWI Penalties